“I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels were a burning fire. A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened. (Daniel 7:9–10)

Avision of four beasts begins a series of revelations given to the prophet Daniel. Startled, Daniel describes the images as “dreadful and terrifying” (Dan 7:7). He writes, “My spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me” (Dan 7:15). Future history was unfolding before his eyes, a succession of four empires, which prophetic scholars have identified as the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman empires (the last of which will be revived at some future time).

Not only did Daniel live through the instability of successive kingships during his own life in exile from the land of Israel, but the future the world was in for continual disruption through international conflict and domination. The march of humanity does not bode well for ever arriving at “peace.” That is an extremely disconcerting thought, especially for the people of Israel, who had been promised world prominence and blessing through their ancestor Abraham (Gen 12:1-3). What little memory of that vow, that pledge God had made so long ago to the patriarch and his descendants was surely faded in their present experience of successive oppressions of foreign control.

In the midst of what might have seemed like depressing prospects of continued domination by powerful empires, we find enthroned over that future history the enigmatic “Ancient of Days,” who has been enthroned since ancient times. In the ancient world where age was respected for its accumulated wisdom and stature, this One that Daniel saw eclipses all wisdom and stature. Notice how He is described: clothes of pure white, indicating absolute purity; His throne engulfed in flames, a sign of fierce judgment. The record books were opened, for He is the one who “came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom” (Daniel 7:22). There is hope, because God will come and His people will reign with Him over all. The Ancient of Days is not limited by the sequential flow of time and history or the machinations of human hearts. We today also have the One who is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega (Rev 1:8). History is controlled by Him whose name is “the Ancient of Days.”

Lord, I have no fear of the future in You, because You are the Ancient of Days.